IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchSaoul comme un Polonais
Meaning: Extremely drunk.
Literally: Drunk as a Pole
Example: “Après la victoire, le capitaine était saoul comme un Polonais.” — After the win, the captain was drunk as a skunk.
English equivalent: Drunk as a skunk
Other ways to say this
Polish: pijany jak świnia Literally: Drunk as a pig- French: Beurré comme un p'tit Lu Literally: Buttered like a little Lu
- French: Bourré comme un coing Literally: Stuffed like a quince
English: drunk as a skunk
Origin: The origin runs against the modern reading: Napoleon is said to have answered criticism of his drunk Polish cavalry, after their charge at Somosierra in 1808, by saying one had to be drunk as a Pole to do what they had just done. It began as praise for courage and was reheard as an insult.
More French idioms
- Être sur le qui-vive To be tensely alert.
- En rade Stranded; left behind.
- Faire du ramdam To make a great deal of noise.
- Un remède de bonne femme A folk cure of doubtful value.
- Tirer sa révérence To take one's leave, with a show of formality.
- À tour de rôle Each in turn.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
Keep exploring